Automatic gramophone and the like



' E. BOWYER-LOWE AUTOMATIC GRAMOPHONE AND THE LIKE March 28, 1939.

Filed Sept. 14, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Auaexq- Edwl n BodgaW-Loque.

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March 28, 193 A. E. BOWYER-LOWE AUTOMATIC GRAMOPHONE AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 14, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Nbrl Ed w Bomgef- Lowe l N VE NTOR cs @mmlg \T'ry.

March 28, 1939. A. E. BowYER-LowE AUTOMATIC GRAMOPHONE AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 14, 1937 l1 Sheets-Sheet 9 AlBeH- Edwun sowx m Low Q, I

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March 28, 1939.

A. E. BOWYER-LOWE AUTOMATIC GRAMOPHONE AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 14,. 1937 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 A\\ -r" Edwun bou er-low NVE T March 28, 1939. A, E. BOWYER-LOWE 2,151,891

AUTOMATIC GRAMOPHONE AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 14, 1937 11 Shets-Sheet 11 w I rw lN V'E1 \ToE i1 smuw k 431:4 AT,

Alber+ Ednh BOUJHQY-JJMUQ' Patented Mar. 28, 1939 AUTOMATIC GBAMOPHONE AND THE. LIKE Albert Edwin Bowyer-Lowe, Letchworth, England,

assignor to Self Changing Gramophones Limited, London, England, a British company Application September 14, 1937, Serial No. 163,733 In Great Britain September 16, 1936 15 Claims.

This invention relates togramophones wherein records are automatically fed one at a time from a stack onto a turntable where, after being played, on one side or on both sides they are automatically rejected into a discard magazine.

The various objects and novel features of the present invention will become evident from the following description of one embodiment of the invention given by way of example only, and from the appended claims.

The invention is illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure la. shows in a perspective view one half and Figure lb in a corresponding perspective view the other half of a grainophone apparatus according to the present invention with some of the parts broken away and covers removed for the purpose of clarity.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partly in section of the stack table and driving mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a substantially vertical sectional view of the stack table mechanism, the housing therefor and end portion of the cam shaft.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the driving mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the housing for the stack table mechanism and the end of the cam shaft, as it would appear if seen from the left in Fig. 4, showing a number of cams and transmission elements.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the record transfer arm and its driving mechanism; a sectional view of the transfer arm being illustrated in Fig. 7a.

Fig. 8 illustrates in a perspective view the elements which control the positioning of the tone arm.

- Fig. 9 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the tone arm and associated control members; Fig. 9a is a plane View of the tone arm control elements illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the guiding elements for the records and the actuating means for said guiding elements; Fig. 10a is a substantially longitudinal sectional view of a. detail of one of the record gripping members.

Figs. 11 and 12 are elevational views of the mechanism for tilting the turn-table and its support, the elements being shown in different positions, inthe two views.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the turn-table and its support and switching means.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the mechanism for resetting the tone arm.

Fig. 15 is a perspective View of the elements which drive the gripping members to reverse the records; and

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic View of the electric circuit of the device.

The apparatus shown by way of example in the drawings, includes a mechanism for transferring records, one at a time, from a stack to a turntable, a mechanism for feeding the records to the transfer mechanism, mechanism for determining the position of the playing arm according to the size of the record, means for stoppage of the playing at the end of the record, mechanism for turning over the record so that both sides may be played consecutively, and mechanism for discharging the record into a discard magazine after it has been played.

In order that the invention maybe more clearly understood, the aforesaid mechanism will be first described generally before entering upon a detailed description.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures la and lb, the apparatus is supported by and within a frame-work formed of a. pair of angle irons I, 2, and cross rods 3, 4. At one end of irons I, 2 are disposed a pair of substantially U shaped members 5 and 6, bolted by means 01'' the free ends of their limbs to the angle irons and serving to support the discard magazine as hereinafter described. Disposed about midway between the two cross members 3 and 4, there is a third cross rod I, to which a turntable 8 is hingedly connected in a manner such that it may be swung down to a generally vertical position and up to a generally horizontal position as seen in Figure 1.

To the right of the turntable 8 is the feed mechanism including a table A having a central spindle 22 extending upwardly therethrough, and up and down which the table A is adapted to slide.

Extending from adjacent the feed table A to a point short of the turntable 8, is a pair of guide members it and I 0, inclined downwardly from the former to the latter of the two tables. The guides 9, I0 terminate at the lower end adjacent a pair of grooved record centering and record turning members II and I2.

In the front of the apparatus (as viewed in Figure l) is a vertical shaft 62, secured to the angle member 2 and mounted for rotation about its axis. An arm I l, extending in a generally horizontal direction is mounted on the upper end of the rod and normally situated in its neutral position substantially mid-way between the feed table A and the turntable 8. A smaller arm I5 is mounted at the free end of the arm M and as hereinafter described in detail, this smaller arm [5 is rotatably mounted on the end of arm M in a manner such that when the arm M is swung from the one extreme limit of its travel to substantially its other limit position the free end of the smaller arm I5 travels along a substantially straight line, joining the centers of the two tables A and 8, as indicated by the chain and dotted line in Figure 1. In one extreme limit of its travel the end of the arm lies over thecentral spindle 22 of table A and is arranged to drop onto the top of it, whilst at the other limit of its travel it lies substantially above the central spindle 8| of the turntable 8.

Mounted on angle member 2, between the two tables is a record registering mechanism including a bell crank lever es. connected by a system of levers to a mechanism for controlling the setting of a tone arm with the stylus on the smooth part of a record as determined by the registering device. The tone arm H, which is pivotally supported on the angle member 2, is controlled by mechanism, generally designated by the letter B and arrow, for biasing the stylus inwards to engage the first groove of the record at commencement of playing and to swing back the tone arm beyond the initial position at the end of each record to clear the record whilst it is being turned.

The turntable 8 is rotated by means of an individ-.

ual electric motor (not shown), whilst the remainder of the operations are brought about by a separate reversible electric motor l8 through a gear box G (see Fig. 4) and series of cams, enclosed within a casing C, their followers and push rods as hereinafter described in detail. Before entering upon a detailed description of the various parts, the general sequence of operations will be described.

Assuming that feed table A is in its lowermost position and the arm M in its neutral position intermediate the feed and the turn-table, the spindle 22, is readily accessible, and the records it is desired to play are stacked upon the table A with the spindle 22 threaded through their central holes. They may be arranged in any desired order, irrespective of size, with the sides to be played first, uppermost. The initial movement causes the arm M to be swung back into the position in which pin I5 of a diameter substantially the same as that of the spindle 22, which extends downwardly from the end of arm i5 is situated above the spindle 22 whereupon the arm M is lowered until the pin IE rests co-axially on the spindle 22.

The contact of the pin I5 with the spindle 22 closes a circuit through a relay for energising the motor 18 to rotate in one direction, and as this circuit includes the pin I5 and the spindle 22 it is closed so long as the pin rests on that spindle. The motor, in rotating, drives the feed table A upwards, raising the stack of records, with the pin 15 in the central hole of the topmost record, until the record engages a collar I5 on the pin I5 thereby causing the arm M to pivot upwardly about its hinge, and to break the circuit of the relay, whilst the next record is still engaged by the spindle 22. The arrangement is such that the upward travel does not stop immediately, but continues so that there is a slight over-run for the purpose of ensuring that the top-most record is completely clear of the spindle top, whilst the next record is only partly threaded onto the spindle 22. The distance between the collar l5 and the free or lowermost end of pin I5 is equal to less than the thickness of the thinnest record likely to be played.

When the circuit is broken and the relay deenergised, a circuit is closed for driving the motor in the reverse direction; this motor being of a type which will reverse its direction within a fraction of a second is known of itself and as it forms no part of the present invention, no description thereof is given.

The motor, now running in the reverse direction, rotates the vertically extending shaft 62 about its vertical axis through a gearing illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 3 and 7, a clutch mechanism of special construction being provided to enable the feed table A to be upwardly driven when the motor is rotating in one direction and to drive the shaft 62 when rotating in the reverse direction.

The shaft 62 in rotating, causes the arms M and I5 to swing towards the left (as viewed in Figure 1) and carrying with them the topmost record which, in being moved, slides onto the guides 9 and I0 towards the turntable 8. In its passage along the guideway, the record brushes against a roller 86 on bell crank 81, thereby causing a U-shaped member to take up a position opposite one or other of two pins I G, I 6' controlling the position to which the tone arm is to be moved to set the stylus into initial playing position. This mechanism thus registers the size of the record and sets the position of the stylus accordingly.

As the record, moving down the guide way 9 and I0 approaches the centering and record turning members i l and H, a cam functions to relieve the pressure of a spring urging the members towards each other so that the record may slide readily into the grooves of these members. A cam in the casing C through suitable push rods release the record as soon as it is centrally disposed above the central spindle 8| of the turntable.

As soon as the record is gripped by the centering members, the arm i5 is raised out of contact with the record and the transfer arm M may thereafter be returned to its neutral position whilst still raised to prevent damaging the record. At the beginning of the operations hereinbefore described, the turntable was hanging down on its hinges, but during the operations was slowly raised to a substantially horizontal position which it reaches before the record is released by the two centering members II, 12 moving away from one another. Consequently, the spindle of the turntable is immediately below the central hole of the record, and

when the latter is released, it is dropped onto the turntable which, in the meantime, has already been set in rotation by closure of a circuit for its driving motor. The tone arm I! is so positioned that at this time the stylus engages the smooth edge of the record, as determined by the registering mechanism, whilst a moment later the pick-up in which the stylus is held is biased inwards a small amount about its pivotal axis so causing the stylus to engage the initial groove of the record. The main driving motor l3 together with the remainder of the mechanism is now stopped and is ready for the next sequence of record changing operations. The record is played in the usual manner until at the end, when an auto-stop device of known construction is actuated by the tone arm to switch oif the turntable motor. The auto-stop device also causes the circuit of motor It to be closed to drive it in the aforesaid reverse direction. Turntable 8 drops slightly until the record is once more opposite the grooves in the centering members ll, l2 whereupon the latterare moved inwardly towards each other to grip the record.

Continued rotation of the, driving motor [8 causes the turntable to swing downwardly to its substantially vertical position whereupon rack 20,

engaging a longitudinally toothed shaft i3, is operated by cams in'casing C to rotate the said shaft. The gripping member i2, being mounted on the shaft 19, is rotated with the latter and, since the member H is rotatably mounted and connected to member l2 by means of the record, the record is turned over onto its other side, this rotating movement being stopped as soon as the record has been rotated through 180.

Upon completion of the rotary movement of the record, the turntable is once more raised to its initial substantially horizontal position, the record is deposited thereon, the turntable is raised further to its final horizontal position and the record thereon is, played as before. At the end of the record, the auto-stop works once more and the turntable is lowered. But this time, the closing operation of the gripping memhers is delayed and, therefore, instead of the record being taken off the turntable by the gripping members, it remains on the turntable until the same has traversed a distance equal to about two thirds of its complete travel from the horizontal to the vertical position. Then the record strikes two arms 2|, 2|, extending from the discard magazine, and is removed clear of the turntable. mechanism, connected with an eccentric I on the cam shaft 55, to rock the record from its dropped position and stack it in the discard magazine indicated by the general reference letter D. The sequence of operations resulting in a fresh record being fed from the feed table A to the turntable 8, is now repeated.

Means are provided for at will rendering inefiective the record turning mechanism, whereby only one side of each record of a stack are played.

Having now described the general sequence of operations, the various means whereby these may be effected will be described in detail.

Record feed mechanism The mechanism for feeding the records to the transfer mechanism is illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 1 to 4. As there shown, the mechanism comprises a vertical spindle 22 passing coaxially through a hollow cylindrical helical screw 23. Both spindle and screw of metal, but are electrically insulated from one another by means of bushes 24 of insulating material fitting tightly within the screw 23 to hold the spindle 22 rigidly in position for rotation with the screw. The spindle is substantially longer than the screw so that at both ends it protrudes beyond the ends thereof. 1

1 A gear wheel 25 is connected to the lower end of the screw 23 which is rotatably supported in bearings 26 carried by the cover plate 21 of a housing 21. This housing is supported by brackets extending from cross member 6, but which have been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity. Surrounding the screw 23 is a cylinder 21 having a lug 28 formed integral therewith. This lug is provided with an aperture through which passes a rod 29 secured to some stationary part of the framework, for example, to the cover plate 21 of casing 21.

A detent 36 pivoted at 3! on the cylindrical member 21 has an arm 32 terminating in a finger hole 33.

The two arms 2!, 2| are actuated by a The detent 30 passes through an aperture in the cylinder 21 and is urged into engagement with the thread of the worm 23 by a spring 34 on a pin 34. Consequently, if the screw 23 is rotated in one direction, the cylinder 21' will be caused to rise, the lug 28 being a sliding fit on rod 29. If the detent 30 is withdrawn from the worm 23 by raising the arm 32, the cylinder 21 may be raised or lowered as desired. It will be evident that the cylinder 27' is prevented from being rotated by means of rod 29.

Mounted on the top of the cylindrical member 21' is a circular disc constituting the feed table A.

The diameter of the spindle 22 being just smaller than the diameter of the centre hole of a record, the records to be played may be threaded on to the spindle and stacked upon the table A. When the spindle 22 and screw 23 are rotated in one direction, the table A will be caused to rise and carry upwardly with it the stack of records disposed thereon. The spindle 22, however, will not rise and consequently, as the stack of records is lifted, the topmost record. will eventually be raised to the level of the spindle top.

The means for rotatably driving the spindle 22 and screw 23 comprises a spindle 36 journalled in bearings 36, 36 which are secured to the inside of the cover plate 21 mounted on the casing 21. The spindle 33 is mounted for convenience diagonally across the plate, as shown in Figure 5. Rotatably mounted on the spindle 36 and engaging gear wheel 25 is a pinion 35 having a sleeve-like boss 35' formed integral therewith. A helical spring 3! surrounds the sleeve 35' and has one end free, whilst the other end 45 is anchored to a. pin 46 (Figures 3 and 5) rigidly mounted on cover plate 21 The arrangement of the spring 31 and sleeve 35 is such that when the sleeve is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, the spring 37 tends to unwind and consequently the sleeve is permitted to rotate.

On the other hand, if it is attempted to rotate sleeve 35 in the opposite direction, the spring 31 will tighten there around and prevent rotation in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow.

Hence, rotation of the sleeve in one direction only will cause gear wheel 25 to be driven by pinion 35. Abutting the free end of sleeve 35 and co-axial therewith is a second pinion 39 rotatably mounted on the spindle 36. This pinion 39 rests upon an enlarged portion or collar 53 of the spindle which terminates in a worm wheel 54. The pinion 39 has a screw 49 in its upper face which forms an anchor for one end of a coil spring 38 wound about the sleeve 35. Pinion 39 is in engagement with a worm wheel 40 on the spindle 4| so as to be driven by the main motor I8 in either direction through pulley 42 (Figure 1), belt 44, pulley 43 (Figure 3) and driving spindle 4|. A pawl 5! on the lower face of pinion 39 is adapted to engage a groove 52 in boss 53 when the pinion 39 is driven in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrow in Figure 3 and thereby tocause rotation of the boss 53 and worm 54 in that direction. During the time the pinion 39 is being driven in the direction indicated by the arrow, the pawl 5| slips round boss 52 without driving it.

The arrangement of the elements just described is such that when the pinion 39 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow, spring 38 is tightened whilst spring 31 is loosened resulting in the rotation of the pinion 35 to drive gear 25. Meanwhile, the worm 54 remains stationary. When pinion 39 is rotated in the opposite direc tion, the spring 38 slackens to release sleeve 35, whilst any tendency for that sleeve to rotate is prevented by the tightening of spring 31. Consequently, no driving power is transmitted to the gear 25. On the other hand, the pawl 5| engages slot 52 thereby causing rotationof boss 53 and worm 54. The latter worm is in driving engagement with a pinion 55 rigidly mounted on a cam shaft 56 passing through casing C housing a number of cam mechanisms for controlling various operations of the gramophone.

At this time it will be remembered that the pin I5 on the small arm I5 is resting on top of the spindle 22, and it will also be remembered that the driving circuit for the main motor I8 includes the spindle 22 and the pin I5. When the stack of records rises sufliciently, the pin I5 engages the hole of the topmost record and shortly thereafter, the upper surface of this record engages collar I5 thereby pivoting the arm I 4 about its hinge 50 in a manner to be described later, it being sufficient at present to state that the driving circuit is thereupon broken, the relay de-energised and the motor I8 reversed. It should be noted, however, that the rise of the feed table A does not stop immediately the pin I5 is raised and the circuit broken, as the momentum of the moving parts is such that a slight over-run results, which raises the upper edge of the record next to the topmost slightly above the top of the spindle before the rising movement of the table A is terminated. The speed at which the table A is raised may be selected so that the required momentum can be attained for the required degree of over-run. This speed can be obtained by selecting suitable sizes of pulleys 42, 43 or gears for drivably connecting the motor I8 to the table and/ or suitable adjustment in the weight of parts. The purpose of this over-run will be evident later.

Transfer mechanism Having now explained the feed mechanism, the mechanism for transferring the top-most record from the feed table to the turntable will be described next, with reference to Figures 1 and '7. Referring first to Figure 3, upon the current being interrupted as previously described, the motor stops and is caused to rotate in the opposite direction, thereby rotating spindle 4I, worm 40 and pinion 39 in the opposite direction. In this direction of rotation the pinion 39 as previously explained drivably engages worm 54 meshing with pinion 55. The shaft 56 is consequently now driven by the main motor I8. The spindle 56 carries an eccentric 5'! rigidly mounted thereon and within a co-operating annular member 58. The annular member 58 is provided with a knuckle joint 59 associated with a rod 60 having a toothed portion 60 The free end of rod 60 is slidably mounted within a hollow cylindrical bearing 6| in a manner such that as the spindle 56 is rotated the eccentric 51, 58 causes the rod 66 to move first in one direction and then in the opposite direction along its longitudinal axis.

The toothed part 68 of rod 60 engages vertical teeth in an elongated toothed wheel 65 rigid on a vertical shaft 62. This vertical shaft is mounted for rotation in a collar 64 rigidly mounted on a bracket 63 connected to the angle member 2, the arrangement of the rod 60 and vertical shaft 62 being such that as the rod moves along its longitudinal axis the vertical shaft is rotated toand-fro about its longitudinal axis.

A collar 68 having an upstanding pin 69 is rigidly mounted immediately below the upper end of the vertical shaft 62. An arm I4 is pivoted by means of a pin 50 to a bifurcated member III mounted free for rotation on the top portion of shaft 62 and adapted to abut against pin 69. The arrangement of parts 68, 69 and I6 is such that when the vertical shaft is rotated, the arm is positively rotated in the direction shown by the arrows due to the pin 69 bearing on the member Ill, so that the free end of the arm I4 is swung to the left, as viewed in Figure 7. When the vertical shaft 62 is rotated in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrow, the arm I4 tends to leave the pin 69 but is prevented from so doing by a tension spring II extending between the pin 69 and an extension ID of the member I0. Consequently, in the latter direction, there is a resilient coupling between the vertical shaft 62 and the arm I 4. The purpose of this resilient coupling will become evident later.

The arm I4 on its pivot 50 would tend to hang downwardly, but this is prevented by an adjusting screw I threadedly engaging an extension III of the member ID carrying pin 50 and resting on collar 68 (Figure 7a). The screw I0 adjusts the horizontal position of the arm I4 and is locked in its adjusted position by nut I0 At the other end of arm I4 and parallel there- .to, a rod I6 having a rack portion 11 is mounted within a bracket I6 on the arm I4 so as to slide along its longitudinal axis. At the end of the rod I6 nearest the collar 68 is a downwardly projecting pin I5 hingedly mounted in the free end of the rod 14, the other end of which is hingedly connected to a pin I3 mounted on a fixed bracket I3 projecting laterally from collar 64. The arrangement of the two rods is such that as the shaft 62 is rotated to swing the arm I4 in the direction shown by the arrows, the rod 16 is caused to move outwardly along its longitudinal axis, whilst when the arm is swung in the opposite direction the rod I6 is moved inwardly.

The rack part 11 of rod I6 engages a pinion I8 mounted on the end of a downwardly extending spindle I9, journalled in a bearing 80 depending from the free end of arm I4, and carrying the arm I5. A bracket 86 is rigidly mounted on the bearing 80 and through this bracket 80 extends a set screw 80 forming a stop for the small arm I5. When the short arm I5 engages the stop 80 further rotation of the pinion I8 is prevented. The rack 11 cannot slide further and the rod I6 is locked whereby further lateral movement of the arms I4 and I5 is prevented, at which time the pin I5 is immediately above the spindle 22. The spring II, already described, in providing a resilient connection between the shaft 62 and arm I4, permits this checking of the movement of the arm I5 for the correct positioning of the pin I5 above the spindle 22, the arm I4 and member I0, if necessary, separating somewhat from pin 69.

The arm I5 projects in a direction generally towards the shaft 62 and terminates in the downwardly extending pin I5 having a collar I5 mounted thereon and spaced from the free end of pin I5 a distance equal to slightly less than the thickness of the thinnest record to be used. It will be evident that when arm I4 swings, the small arm I5 will also be rotated with respect to arm I4 due to the movement of the rack 11 relative to the pinion 18. The arrangement of the arms and rack is such that the end of the pin mechanism by rotating the shaft 62 in the direc- I5 will travel along a substantially straight line joining spindle 22 of the feed table A and the spindle 8| of the turntable. The path of the end of pin I5is indicated by chain and dot line in Figure 17.

The pin 13 lies eccentrically with respect tothe axis of the vertical shaft 62 and the arrangementis such that when the movement of the rod I6 in the outward direction is stopped by its end abutting the closed free end of the arm It, the latter is rocked about its pivot 5|] to raise its free end and with it the arm I5. This lifting of the arms M and I5 is designed to take place immediately upon a record being gripped by the members II and. I2.

The vertical shaft 62, together with the arms I4 and I5 supported thereon, is also adapted to have vertical movement. This vertical movement is effected by the engagement of a cam follower I82 engaging a collar 82 fast on the shaft 62. The lower lobe I82 rides on either one of the cam members 84 and 85 mounted fast on the shaft I2I adapted for axial movement under control of the vertical spindle I24. This axial movement of the shaft I2I is brought about by an eccentric pin IMP-mounted on a collar I24 carried at the end of the vertical spindle I24-engaging an annular groove I 2|.

When the spindle I24 is rotated into the one position in which the mechanism is set to play both sides of a record, as illustrated in the drawings, the lower lobe I82 rides on the cam 84,

. which is so shaped that the vertical shaft 62 and the arm I4 are maintained in the raised position after completing the feeding of the record until the feeding of the next record is to commence. When, however, the vertical spindle I24 is set so that the mechanism will play one side only of the record, the lower lobe I82 rides on the cam 85, which is so shaped that after feeding the one record the shaft 62 is raised until the record has been played and the feeding of the next record is tocommence. The cam 85 is, therefore, symmetrical, the one half corresponding to one cycle of operations being identical with the opposite side corresponding to the next cycle. It should here be noted that the movement of the shaft I2I should only take place when like parts of the cams 84 and 85 are adjacent the lower lobe I82 of the follower I82 and like parts of the cams H9 and I20 are similarly adjacent their follower I25, that is to say, when the arm I4 is in its neutral raised position. The operation of the cams 84 or 85 is such that the shaft 52 is raised soon after the arm I5 has positioned a record in the centering devices II and I2, maintained raised during the time the arm I4 is in its neutral position, and lowered only when moving from its neutral position in the direction opposite to that shown by the arrows for positioning the pin I5 above the spindle-22 as already described. The shaftliZ is allowed to remain in its lowered position until the record is gripped by the centering devices I I and I2. The return axial movement of the shaft 52 is aided by the spring 65, which is tensioned when the shaft 62 is raised in axial direction by the cam follower I82. The rotation of the shaft 52 is brought about by the parts 51, 58, 59, 60 and 65 previously described. v

The record feed mechanism already described has, due to the over-run, raised the topmost record on the stack slightly above the level of the spindle 22 and reversed the circuit of the driving motor I8 to begin the operation of the transfer tion of the arrows. The shaft '62 in rotating the arm It causes movement of the small arm I5 in a horizontal plane as last described, and this movement of arm I5 causes the topmost record to be slid from the stack and moved towards the turntable 8. It should be noted that the topof spindle 22 is domed to a height equal to about the difference between the thickest and the thinnest records to be used. This variation thickness, on taking the average of several thousand records, has been found to be about one thirty-second of an inch.

This doming is an extra precaution and ensures that the records are slid off one at a time independently of variation in thickness of successive records and acts additionally to the overrun previously mentioned. The record as it is slid off the top of the stack by the motion of arms I4, I5 is slid onto the guides 9 and I!) which comprise fiat metal members arranged to slope downwardly in a direction from the feed table A towards the turntable 8 and also to slope downwardly towards each other so that as the record is slid along the runway thus formed, only the edge of the record is in contact therewith.

Size registering mechanism As it is slid along the runway, the record encounters registering mechanism for determining its size and accordingly adjusting the position to which the tone arm and pick-up is subsequently to be moved to commence playing the record.

The registering mechanism is illustrated generally in Figure 8 and comprises a bell crank lever 81 pivoted at 88 on the side member 2 to be capable of rocking in a generally horizontal plane. At the end of one arm 8? of the bellcrank lever 81 a roller 86 is provided, positioned in. the path traversed by the record as it passes along from the feed table A to the turntable, and

consequently on a record encountering the roller 85 the crank 8? is caused to be rocked about its pivot 88. The movement of the crank is imparted through its other arm 31 to the arm 89 of the lever 89 pivoted at 55 to the side member 2 in a vertical plane at right angles to the general plane and direction of the runway formed by the guides 9, I0. The end 89 of the lever 89 is connected through a universal joint with one end of a rod 9!. The other end of the rod 9i terminates in a bifurcated member 95, and this end of the rod is sl'idably carried within the forked end of a lever 93 pivoted by means of an extension 53 between lugs 94 on the part 5. When the bell crank 8? is rocked, the lever 89 is similarly rocked and the rod 9| is moved along its longitudinal axis proportionate to the displacement of the crank 87 to assume one of its three possible positions. Opposite each of the two adjusted positions which the fork 95 is adapted to take up lies one of two downwardly extending pins It and i6 each mounted at the extremities of a lozengeeshaped plate 95 centrally pivoted to rotate in a horizontal plane. Plate 55 is mounted on the lower end of a vertically extending rod 9'! journalled in a lug I98 (Figure 1) integral with angle member 2. Rigidly mounted on the rod 91 are three arms extending laterally therefrom of which the intermediate arm 98 is pivotally connected to one corner of a triangular plate I00, itself pivoted at Illl as described later, whilst the upper arm 298 limits the rotation of the rod 91 by engaging one or the other of two stops 298 provided on lug I98. The stops are formed as eccentrics so that the distance between their adjacent surfaces may be altered, thereby adjusting the setting of the plate I99. The lower arm 99 has a rod I02 connected to the free end thereof to pivot in a horizontal plane. The other end of rod I02 is mounted to slide in a hole in a pin I03 (Figure 9) mounted to swivel on part of angle member 2.

The rod I02 passes through the centre of a coil spring I04 bearing with one end against a turned down portion of the rod I02 and with the other end against pin I93. The arrangement of the lower arm 99 is such that when the rod 9? is rotated from one extreme limit of its travel to the other in a manner to be described hereafter, the spring I04 maintains the rod 9? in that extreme position. The intermediate arm 98 upon rotation of the rod 97 causes the triangular plate I00 to move from one to the other of its extreme positions of travel.

Reverting now to the control of the rod 9|, it has already been stated that the forked member thereof may be positioned in one of three alternative positions, i. e. its normal position, its first adjusted position for one size of record, and its second adjusted position for a larger size of record. The forked end 95 in sliding between the limbs 92 of the cranked fork member 93 may be displaced either to a position in which the limb 95 is opposite the pin I6, or to a second position, in which the limb 95 engages the pin I5. When, however, the parts are in their neutral position, the pin I0 lies between the limbs 95' and 95 so that during the functioning of that part of the mechanism about to be described, it does not cause the operation which would otherwise take place if either limb engaged its respective pin.

The outer end I05 of crank 93 forms a support for a downwardly extending pin I06 which is adapted to have slight rotation in its support. Pin I09 forms one part of a hinge member I01, provided at one end of a rod I08 having its other end swivelled at one arm of a bell crank I09. The crank I09 is adapted to be rocked about a pivot IIO by means of cam III (rigidly mounted on shaft 56) through roller I I2, rocker H3 and push rod I I4.

As shaft 50 is driven by motor I8, the cam III is rotated until it causes rocker II3 to rock and thereby pull rod I98 along its longitudinal axis towards the right as viewed in Figure 8. This causes crank 93 to pivot about its support 94 with the result that the forked end 92 is pushed inwardly, carrying with it the left hand (Figure 8) end of rod III. In moving forward the bifurcated part 95 engages one or the other of pins I6, I6 according to the position to which it has been moved by bell crank 87 and pushes that pin forward thereby causing the rod 91 to be rotated together with the triangular plate I00 as previously explained. The rod I92 with its spring I 04 locks the members in the position reached. It will be appreciated from a study of Figure 8 that the forward movement of one pin I6 will cause the plate I00 to rotate in one direction while the forward movement of the other pin I0 will cause the plate to be rotated in the other direction.

The triangularplate I00 is pivoted at IN on the same vertically extending member I I5 which supports the tone arm I IE, but is so arranged that movement of the plate does not cause movement of the tone arm H6.

The plate I00 is provided on one side thereof with an upstanding stop member I I8, the purpose of which will hereinafter be made apparent.

The plate I 00 in either one of its two positions, as determined by the size of the record, sets the position of the tone arm. The sequence of operations controlled by cam II I is timed to occur while the record is being carried past and still in contact with the roller 86 on crank 81. A spring I95 fixed to the bifurcated part 95 on the one hand and to the fork 92 on the other hand, restores the parts 95, 9|, 89, 8'! and 86 to their neutral position, as soon as the record has swept past the roller 86. The manner in which the above sequence of operations is used to control the setting of the tone arm and stylus at the beginning of the record will be described later.

In the meantime, the record has been carried past the size registering mechanism, and the mechanism for guiding the record onto the spindle of the turntable now comes into operation.

Record centering mechanism The mechanism for guiding the record onto the turntable is illustrated in Figures 1, 4, 6 and 10, together with the control mechanism. Referring now to these figures, the members 9, I0 constituting the runway are supported on two arms I35, I36 respectively, said arms being integral with two sleeve portions I3I, I32 pivotally mounted on frame members I, 2 to rock in a horizontal plane. The two arms I 35, I30 are interconnected by a rod I33 connected to two lugs I31, I38 projecting from the sleeve portions I3I, I32 of the arms I35, I36. The arrangement of the intercommunications is such that movement of one of the arms I35, I 30 causes movement of the other arm in the opposite direction.

Thus, inward movement of one arm will cause a corresponding inward movement of the other arm and vice versa.

The arm I35 has alug I39 depending therefrom to which there is connected one end of a helical tension spring I 34.

The other end of this tension spring is connected to one end of a lever I40 adapted to rock about a pivot I4I (Figures 4 and 6) mounted on cover plate 21 of casing 21. The other end of lever I40 terminates in a roller I42 which bears against a cam I43 mounted on shaft 56. The

arrangement of the cam I43, lever I40 and spring I34 is such that the spring I34 always exerts a force drawing the two arms I35, I36 towards each other, but this force is reduced at times determined by the cam I43 since when the roller I42 is cammed out towards the left (Figure 4) the lever I40 is rocked and the tension of spring I34 is increased whilst when the lever I40 is rocked in the opposite direction, the tension is reduced.

The arms I35, I36 at their ends 9', I0 support a pair of forked members I 44, I45 which engage collars on shafts I41, I9 projecting rearwardly from the arcuate grippers I I, I2. The shafts I41, I9 are rotatably supported in bearings formed in the frame members I, 2 so that the grippers I I, I2 are both rotatable and longitudinally movable along an axis indicated by the broken line in Figure 10.

The gripper II is arranged so that it can be held in the position shown in Figure 1. The means for effecting this is indicated in Figure 10a and comprises a pair of spring loaded fiat faced plungers me, I4Id which bear against flattened faces MM and I4'Ib on the shaft M1.

The shaft I9 of gripper I2 (Figure 15) is provided with gear teeth extending along'the length of the shaft which mesh with a rack 20 movable longitudinally along its axis. The arrangement is such that the members I9, '20 are always in mesh irrespective of the position of gripper I2.

The two grippers II and I2 on their respective shafts I 41 and I9 are provided with grooves I Ia,

I2a along their length, the width of which grooves are slightly greater than the thickness of the thickest record likely to be played. At the mouths of the grooves the grippers are provided with free running rollers I2 II respectively for permitting easy entry of the edge of the record into the respective grooves.

The operation of thejust described mechanism is as follows: when the arm I sweeps the record past the registering device which determines its diameter, cam I43 is rotated to a position in which lever I45 is rocked to reduce the tension of spring I34.

The tension of this spring is now such that when arm I4 causes the record toabut against the rollers at the ends of the grippers II, I2,

the record forces the grippers apart and enters the grooves Ila, l2a. The record, being once centered, is retained in this position by the grippers. At the same time the cam I43 controlling the spring tension is moved to rock the lever I43 in clockwise direction and thereby to increase the tension. The grippers II, I2 consequently hold the record firmly in position.

The arm I l continues to move but, as has already been described with reference previously to the transfer mechanism, it is now raised and thus leaves the record. The next operation is to place the record on the turntable.

Turntable mechanism The mechanism for controlling the turntable is illustrated in- Figures 1, ll, 12, and 13.

The turntable 8 together with an electric motor (not shown) for driving the turntable and trip mechanism of known type, for automatically stopping the turntable at the end of the playing period and for switching off its motor, is mounted on a platform I48 which is freely pivotally mounted about a shaft I49 supported by brackets I53 depending from cross member I.

The platform I48 is provided with a down wardly extending adjusting screw I5! which bears against one arm I52 of a cranked lever also pivoted at I49. The other arm I53 of the cranked leverhas a link I54 connected thereto, the other end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a second link I55. The other end of link I55 is pivotally connected at I56 to the cover plate 21 of casing 21.

A roller I51 is provided at the juncture of the links I53 and $55, which roller bears on the edge of a cam I58 rotatable with the shaft 56. A spring I59, hooked over and pressing down on the link I55 ensures permanent contact of the roller I51 with cam I53.

In operation, cam I58 bears against the end of arm I54 through roller I5! and causes movement of the arm I52 and of the platform I48 about pivot I 59 from a substantially horizontal position (Figure 11) to a substantially vertical position. In. order that the cam I58 may be correctly angularly positioned on its shaft to time its operation, it is rotatably adjustable thereon, being secured in its correct position by bolts I58 projecting through a slat in a plate I58 fast on the shaft.

Cam I58 is so out that the platform reaches a position slightly below true horizontal just after the record has been gripped by the grippers II, I2 as already described.

The platform is lowered to its vertical position to permit reversal of the record and for discarding a played record, which operations will be referred to later.

It is to be noted that arm I52 is provided with an upturned portion I52a which normally bears against a pair of spring contacts I60, I6I to maintain them closed. If, as will be evident later, the downward movement of the platform is impeded in any way, the platform remains stationary whilst the arm I52 only takes part in the downward movement. Part I520. is thus caused to move away from the contacts permitting them to open as shown in Figure 12. As these contacts are in the main circuit the same is broken and the entire mechanism is stopped.

Reverting to the sequence of operations, the record is now disposed in the grippers immediately above the turntable with the latter in its first substantially horizontal position, and must now be released to drop thereon.

Record. release mechanism The mechanism for releasing the record so that it will drop onto the turntable is illustrated in Figures 1 and 10.

As previously explained, the two pivotally the sleeve portion I32 integral with arm I36 by means of an arm I88 which, together with a second arm I39 rigid therewith, forms a bell crank lever. The sleeve portion I32 is .rotatably mounted on a spindle (not shown) depending from a lug projecting laterally from frame member 2 in a similar manner as lug Ia projects from frame member I.

The end of arm I35 is connected through a system of push rods I25, I29 and to rocker arms I21, I28 a T shaped member I25 abutting against the one or the other of two cams I I9, I mounted on shaft I28. The T member I is pivotally mounted at I25 on any convenient part of the apparatus.

The shaft I2! is movable axially by the parts I2I', I24, I24 in a manner such as to bring either one or the other of the cams II9, I20 into contact with the T member I25 in a manner and for a purpose to be hereinafter described. At

present it will be sufiicient to point out that both cams have equal camming portions II9a, I2Iia by means of which the ends 9', I0 of arms I and I36 are caused to pivot away from each other thereby separating the grippers II, I2 and permitting the record to drop onto the turntable which at this-moment is rotating.

In the meantime, eccentric 5! has moved to a position such that rod 50 is moving back into the socket 5| with the result that shaft 62 is rotated in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Figure? carrying with it the arm I4. At the moment when the shaft 62 starts its return rotation it is lifted by a T member I32 operated by cam 84 and acting upwardly upon collar 82. The shaft 62 by being lifted ensures that the pin I5 on arm I5 passes over the record being played and comes to rest in its neutral position. By this time, cam 84 has rotated sufficiently to permit shaft 62 to be lowered and pin I5 becomes ready to once more engage the top of spindle 22 in preparation for the next sequence of operations which feeds the topmost record thereto.

Reverting to the main sequence of operations, it will be remembered that the record has been deposited on the rotating turntable and is waiting for the latter to be raised to its final horizontal position which brings the stylus onto the first playing grooves.

Tone arm control The movements of the tone arm and stylus are controlled by the mechanism shown in Figures 1, 8, 9 and 14.

Referring to these figures, it will be remembered that a plate I00 has been set to one of two positions according to the size of the record.

The tone arm I1 is pivoted at i1 to a bracket I63 rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft II5,

journalled in the member 2 to permit the tone arm I1 to swing in a substantially horizontal plane.

Depending from the tone arm I1 is a short rod I64 passing through a slot I65 (Figure 9) in a plate I66 pivoted on vertical shaft H and having a sharp nose portion I61. The rod I64 abuts one end of a lever I68 pivoted at I69 on frame member 2. This lever is connected by a rod I10 to a bell crank lever I'II adapted to be rocked by cam I12 through lever system 513, I14.

In operation, the cam I12 in rotating causes rod I10 to move to the right as viewed in Figure 14 and rock lever I68 in a counter clockwise direction carrying with it the tone arm I1. In the course of this movement, the depending rod I64 slides along the edge of plate I00 and then encounters a substantially horizontal arm 3I0 pivoted on vertical shaft H5. The arm 3I0 is first displaced in counter-clockwise direction (see Fig. 9a), but as soon as cam I12 assumes a position causing lever I68 to recede from rod I64, the arm 3I0 and the rod I64 carry out a movement in clockwise direction under the influence of a spring 3| I. This latter movement continues until the depending rod I64, whilst the tone arm is hanging down about its pivot I1, abuts against the nose of the plate I00 in its adjusted position (Figure 9a). When the rod I64 is checked by the plate I08, the inner end of an adjusting screw 3I2 abuts the projection II8 on the plate I00 so that now the rod is only subjected to the influence of a weak spring 3I3, the strength of which can be adjusted by means of the screw 3I2. The plate I80, in correspondence to its adjustment by the record registering mechanism hereinbefore described and depending upon the size of the record to be played, defines the position up to which the rod I 64 and tone arm I 1 are moved by the spring actuated arm 3| 0 before the stylus (not shown) contacts the record.

Referring now to Figure 11, an inspection of cam I58 will show that it comprises a part I15 spaced further radially from the central axis about which the cam rotates than any other part thereof. When roller I51 rides on this part I15, as it does at this point in the sequence of operations, the platform, already raised to its initial substantially horizontal position when the stylus engages the smooth part of the record, is further raised by a slight additional movement of the cranked lever I52, I53 to bring the platform I48 to its maximum height when the stylus enters the first groove of the record. During the final movement of the turntable from its first horizontal position to its final horizontal position, it rocks the tone arm upwardly from its hanging position to its playing position and the resulting traverse of the rod I64 along the curve of the spring 3I3 biases the tone arm inwardly to bring the stylus into engagement with the first sound groove. At this time the rod IE4 is freed from the plate I00. Consequently, the tone arm is perfectly free to traverse across the record and play it. When the record has been played and the turntable sinks, the rod I64 drops back into engagement with the plate I80 and, during the next cycle of the control assembly, is swept around the edge thereof in being carried to its outermost limit position by the arm I68. When, in the course of its upward movement, the turntable has reached its final horizontal position, the circuit of the main driving motor I8 is broken by means of a switch 290 controlled by cam I80 on shaft 56 (see Fig. 16), and the apparatus remains in this state until the record has been played. At the end of each playing period, the motor I8 is automatically started again by establishing a temporary shunt circuit in the following manner. As the tone arm is guided inwardly beyond the innermost sound groove of a record, the nose-shaped part I61 (Figure 9) engages and displaces a weighted block I16 mounted on lever I11, whereby a control arm I11 connected with lever I11 causes a movable contact element I11 to bridge two spaced contact pieces I11 (see Fig. 16). As soon as motor I8 and cam shaft 56 start to rotate, the main circuit is reestablished by cam I90 closing switch 290.

The lever I11 is pivotally supported on a bracket I19 fixed to platform I48. To the lower surface of the bracket I19, there is pivoted a cranked lever I18, the lower end of which is connected to a rod I80 swivelled at I8I on cross member 1. When the turntable 8 is swung down to its substantially vertical position, due to the eccentricity of its pivotal axis with respect to the pivotal axis of the rod I 80, the latter pulls the lower end of the cranked lever I18 and rocks the free upper end I82 of said lever in a clockwise direction thereby rotating the lever I11 so as to reset the block I16 to its initial position and to open the contacts I11 I11 At the end of the record a trip mechanism of known type and, therefore not described nor shown, is actuated so as to operate the switch to open the circuit of the turntable motor and to close the circuit of motor I8.

The platform I48 is lowered by means of cam I58. As the platform begins to descend the record reversing mechanism is operated for enabling the other side of the record to be played.

Record reversing mechanism The mechanism for reversing the record is illustrated in Figures 1, 10 and 15. Referring first to Figure 10, the record before being rotated must be engaged in grippers II, I2. This is effected due to the T member I passing beyond the protrusion I88 on the cam I20, when the rippers II I2 are permitted to move inwards to grip the record.

Immediately thereafter, at which time the turntable has swung down, cam I84 (Figure 15) engages crank lever I85 to rock it about its pivot in a counterclockwise direction whereby rod I66 is pushed to the left as viewed in this figure.

This rod, in moving, compresses spring I81 and at the same time pushes the rod 20 having a racked end 20 engaging the teeth on shaft I9 which is consequently rotated together with gripper I2.

The rack 20 is conveniently formed as a spiral thread on the rod 20. The latter is arranged for axial adjustment in its bearing 20 soas to permit accurate positioning of the gripper I2 before and after turning. The opposite end of the rod 20' is threaded as at 20 which portion engages the projecting lug of the part I 86' on the end of the rod I06. The rod 20 is locked in its adjusted position by lock nuts 20 The movement of the rod I in the direction towards the right, as. seen in Figure 15, is limited by an adjustable stop-screw 300, extending through a lug 301 on the member 2 and locked in its adjusted position by a lock nut 302.

Since the record is at this time held between the grippers, both are rotated. During this operation the arm i4 is swung from its neutral position across to the turntable as before, but as the shaft 62 remains raised no transfer of records is effected from the feed mechanism to the turntable. The movement of the arm M is timed to take place after the turning of the record is complete. By the time the record has been reversed, the turntable is once more raised to its first substantially horizontal position by cam I58. The grippers are separated to permit the record to drop onto the turntable, the turntable is further raisedand the record played as. before.

If the record is to be discharged after one side has been played instead of being reversed, the cam H 9 is brought into operative position instead of cam I 29 by axial movement of the shaft I2I by rotation of hand operated shaft I24, as already explained. The T member I29 now engages the cam H9. 7 a

At the end of the playing time of the record. the grippers are prevented from moving inwardly to grip therecord. Thus, as the table desc'ends, the record is slid into a discard magazine (Figure 1) indicated by the general reference character D. The record remains on the table for about two thirds of its downward travel when it is engaged by the arms 2|, 2! and leaves the table to drop edge on onto rubber stops 320. Immediately after the record has been dropped into the tray, rotation of disc I on shaft 59 causes arms 2| to be swung towards a back plate I 9I- carrying withit the discarded record and stacking it on end against plate I91. The arms 2| and 21' are mounted on a cross-bar 21 carried by levers I92, which levers have rubber covered projections 32I extending outwardly to lie between therubber covered limbs 322, 323 of pivoted bifurcated members 324 fast on shaft 325 on which is mounted crank arm I93. Thus, when the eccentric I90 acting through red I 94 rocks member 324, the arms 2|, 2! are as has been said moved towards plate I9I. The levers I92 are under control of an over-centre spring, not shown, and accordingly snap over in the one direction or the other but silently due to the rubber cushioning.

To remove the records from the discard magazine the plate I9I is swung back about pivot I95 (Figure 2). p I I This motion also causes a pair of contacts I96 to be opened and thereby open the main circuit for preventing any possible operation of the mechanism when the discard magazine is in a position other than in that for receiving discarded records.

Should a record lie in the discard magazine inrest on the record but the cam- I 59 willcontinue 1 to rotate until-contacts I60, I6I separate whereupon the main circuit is again opened and the whole mechanism brought to a. standstill. In this manner risk of breaking a record is reduced.

' Reject To reject a record that is being played to. bring about the next cycle, 1. e. the discard or reversal of the record, it is only necessary to close the circuit to the main motor I8 which may be done by remote control or to trip the automatic stop device.

The circuit diagram by means of which the motor 18 is controlled is illustrated in Figure 16 wherein the various safety switches previously referred to are shown schematically.

The terminals I91, I98 are connected to the house electric mains. A master switch I99 closes a circuit from the mains terminal I98 over the stationary winding 204 of induction motor I8, turn-table safety switch I60, l6l, cam controlled switch 290 or shunt switch I11 I11 rejection tray safety switch I96, to the main I91, and simultaneously, a parallel circuit, including the primary P of a. transformer 200. The secondary S of the transformer 200 is arranged in a circuit which includes the winding 20I of a relay 20I, the feed spindle 22 and the arms I4, I5. When the circuit of, thesecondary winding S is closed over spindle 22 and the arms, the armature 2(II of the relay 201 and two movable contacts 20I and 20I are moved towards the right in Fig. 16, whilst when the circuit is broken in the manner hereinbefore described, the armature 20I and the contacts 20I and 20I will be operated in the opposite direction by means of springs 20Ia and. 2011)." In the first, of the said two positions, the movable contacts20l and 20I close a third parallel circuit over contacts 202,203, current being fed from the mains terminal I91, rejection tray safety switch I99, cam controlled switch 290 or shunt switch I11 I11 turntable safety switch I6I, I60, contacts NW, 203, 201, rotor winding 206 of motor I8, contacts 205, 202, 20I and switch I99 to main terminal I98.

In these conditions the motor will operate in one direction; When the circuit including spindle 22 is broken the armature 20I of the relay 200'and the movable contacts 20 I 20I will move towards the left in Fig. 16, whereby the above described rotor circuit is opened and a reverse rotor circuit is closed, feeding current from the main terminal I91 over switches I96; 290-or I11 I11 I61, I60 contacts" 2M 205 through rotor winding 206 and over contacts 201, 20I and switch I99 to terminal I98. This will cause a reversal of the current in the rotor 206' causing" the motor I 8 to reverse.

I claim:

1. In a phonograph having a frame and supported wi thin said frame a turn-table and a substantially horizontal support table for a stack of records to be played, the combination of a device for transferring records from said support table to said turn-table, comprising a substantially horizontal main feed arm pivoted to said frame so as to project across an imaginary line connecting the center of said support table to that of the turn-table and in a plane above said line, a rotatable spindle depending from the free end of said main feed arm, an auxiliary horizontal arm disposed at the lower end of said spindle in a directionsubstantially opposite to that of said main arm, the free end of said auxiliary arm projecting' to said imaginary line, cam means for 

